"If not her, then who?!" Gao's mother rolled her eyes. "Could it possibly be because of you?! Shanshan's older brother is an advisor to the Eastern Palace and a favored confidant of the Crown Prince. With just one word, he could help Zheng get appointed as a Capital Official! Unlike you—completely useless, only capable of spending Zheng's money!"
Gao Zheng frowned and said, "Mother, please stop talking."
"What, am I wrong?" Gao's mother retorted angrily. "I reckon you've been utterly bewitched by her!"
Gao Zheng's expression turned complex. "Enough. Let's eat first."
Shen Yinning tilted her head, fiddling with her wine cup.
She cast a meaningful glance at Yin Shanshan but did not say a word, merely smiling.
After a few rounds of drinks, Yin Shanshan, a little tipsy, began describing the bustling activity of the Capital: "In two days, it will be the Bathing Buddha Festival. I've heard that every year during this time, Shengguo Temple hosts a lively dharma assembly. Even the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort will go there to distribute porridge and perform acts of charity! The elderly abbot at Shengguo Temple will personally open a lecture on the scriptures. Only those with status—high-ranking officials' spouses and matriarchs from noble families—can attend the lecture!"
Believing in Buddhism, Gao's mother hurriedly said, "Shanshan, isn't your older brother well-connected with the Crown Prince? Could he ask the Crown Prince to arrange a spot for me to attend the lecture?"
Yin Shanshan readily agreed: "That's not a difficult task at all. My brother will surely take care of it."
Her brother had only been appointed to the Eastern Palace last year.
In truth, she didn't even know the specifics of her brother's role there or how close he was to the Crown Prince. When she asked him in a letter to speak kindly about Zheng to the Crown Prince, it was completely on a whim.
Unexpectedly, it actually worked!
Thinking about it now, her brother's position must indeed be quite exceptional.
Feeling increasingly confident, she added, "Mother, don't worry. I'll make sure you sit alongside the matriarchs of noble families during the lecture. You can experience the prestige of an Imperial Decree lady yourself!"
Overjoyed, Gao's mother immediately placed a chicken drumstick onto Yin Shanshan's plate.
Afraid that Shen Yinning might eye the remaining drumstick, Gao's mother quickly dropped half a plate of leafy greens into Shen Yinning's bowl and grumbled, "Shen Yinning, don't blame your mother-in-law for playing favorites. You don't do anything at home—why would you need meat? You can just eat the greens; they're good for your health too."
Shen Yinning glanced at the mountain of vegetables in her bowl.
She disliked people serving her food.
The chopsticks were still smeared with the old woman's saliva—filthy.
She wasn't one to endure grievances. Already, the act of coming to the main hall for a meal today was a concession to Gao Zheng.
She lazily tossed aside her chopsticks and stood up to leave: "I'm finished."
Gao's mother watched her walk away, growing beside herself with anger. She yelled at Gao Zheng, "Look at her! Does she even think of me as her mother-in-law?! Is this how a daughter-in-law should behave?!"
"Mother, stop scolding her—"
"Am I wrong?! Zheng, you're soon to be a Capital Official, someone respectable and dignified. Our family is not what it used to be; we're now part of an official household. From now on, we must abide by propriety! But look at her—does she look like the wife of an official? Sooner or later, I'll have to teach her some proper manners!"
Gao Zheng felt his scalp go numb.
Teaching manners to the Crown Prince's woman—did Gao's mother want to completely ruin his prospects?
Hurriedly, he rushed out to apologize to Shen Yinning.
But before he'd gone far, Yin Shanshan caught up with him.
She clutched him tightly, exclaiming, "My dear Zheng—"
Gao Zheng said urgently, "Shanshan, I still have important matters to attend to. Don't do this."
"Important matters? Isn't it just trying to please Shen Yinning?" Yin Shanshan pouted. "But aside from her face, what does she have that compares to me? I gave you a son. I manage your household for you. I helped get you reassigned to the Capital. Shen Yinning, apart from eating meals, what use is she?!"
Yin Shanshan despised Shen Yinning.
She had a secret—she was not originally from this world, but someone who had traveled here from the future.
When she first arrived, her brother was planning to sell her off as a second wife to the old man next door in exchange for travel expenses to the Capital. Determined to escape the shackles of fate, she fled to the streets, where she was luckily rescued by Shen Yinning during her outing.
She fell in love with Shen Yinning's husband, Gao Zheng, at first sight.
With her extensive knowledge from reading countless online novels, she deduced that her life was leading to a storyline of a concubine rising to power as the protagonist. Thus, she willingly became Gao Zheng's concubine.
Everything unfolded just as she anticipated.
Not long after entering the household, she gave birth to a son ahead of Shen Yinning. Gao Zheng doted on her immensely, so much so that he hadn't visited Shen Yinning's chambers in three years!
Pleased with herself, she thought, even though Shen Yinning possessed a stunningly beautiful face, what could a mere ancient woman, feudal, naive, and dull as she was, possibly do to compete with her—a knowledgeable, lively, and clever time-traveling woman?
"My dear Zheng..." Yin Shanshan pouted coquettishly. "Don't go and try to please Shen Yinning."
Gao Zheng couldn't resist her and accompanied her back to her room.
Only after Yin Shanshan fell asleep did he sneak out quietly to meet Shen Yinning.
Unfortunately, it was late at night, and Shen Yinning refused to let him enter her chambers.
Through the silk window screens, he could make out the silhouette of the beauty under the lamplight. Unable to help himself, his Adam's apple bobbed. "Miss Shen, tonight my mother offended you."
Shen Yinning leaned over the table, her calligraphy strokes flowing with strength: "It's of no consequence."
On the rice paper, the girl's cursive writing resembled iron hooks and silver strokes, fluid and bold. This was entirely unlike the delicate, shaky handwriting she penned for Lu Ying during daytime—it was resolute and commanding.
The beauty's voice was soft and melodious, akin to dew slipping off flower petals in spring.
Gao Zheng's ears flushed red. Unconsciously, he lowered his voice: "Speaking of which, my mother deeply admires the abbot of Shengguo Temple. But Shanshan, with her humble origins, hasn't the influence to get my mother an invitation. I wonder if you could say a few kind words to the Crown Prince and request an invitation for my mother."
Shen Yinning chuckled lightly: "You're quite the filial son."
Neither rejecting nor agreeing.
Gao Zheng immediately offered eagerly, "Miss Shen, you asked me last time to investigate the current status of the Shen Family—I've already looked into it. The Shen Guogong Mansion's Bright Pearl is now the Crown Princess Consort, reportedly deeply loved by the Crown Prince. The Shen Family also has two sons—both outstanding young men. One serves as a Young General stationed at the border, while the other was last year's second place in the imperial examinations and is currently serving as an editor at the Hanlin Academy. He is expected to join the Cabinet as the Prime Minister eventually. The Shen Family is eminent and currently one of the most influential families in the Capital."
Inside the room, silence fell.
It wasn't until a long time later that a lazy chuckle broke the stillness: "Go back. The invitation will arrive in your hands."
Gao Zheng was overwhelmed with joy and quickly expressed his gratitude.
As he left, he couldn't help but glance back repeatedly.
The current Crown Princess Consort's surname was Shen, and Shen Yinning also carried the surname Shen.
He suddenly recalled a major case from three years ago.
Back then, the Shen Guogong Mansion was under the charge of a different person, who attempted rebellion but was exposed by his younger half-brother. The entire family was executed, except for his youngest daughter, who escaped the massacre. However, she fell from the heights of a distinguished noble to the status of a disgraced criminal's child, losing her engagement to the Crown Prince, which was instead claimed by her cousin.
Could Shen Yinning be the young lady of the Shen Guogong Mansion from three years ago?